Martian Methane May Be Created By Lifeforms

Following our recent discussions about the growing evidence pointing to possible life on Mars, reader skywatcher2501 writes with news of a study that has ruled out one possible explanation for the levels of methane seen on that planet — that it might be replenished by disintegrating meteors entering the atmosphere. So two theories remain: either the gas is created as a by-product of reactions between volcanic rock and water, or it is a by-product of a lifeform's metabolism.

Comments

This must mean...

[gregarican]

that Martians need some beano eh? Also, first post BTW...

Even more compelling

[Anonymous Coward]

Methane concentrations peak in an area on the planet opposite the famous face on mars.

crap

[Nadaka]

Now the ecozealots will decry our spoiling of the natural martial environment, and will protest any attempt at colonization or terraformation as the destruction of a precious natural world.

Re:crap

[WoodenTable]

Indeed. The scientific value of alien life is immense, rivalled only by its potential for deliciousness.

Quick! We need some fundings!

[quangdog]

This spells disaster in the form of global climate change on mars! Who wants to be the first to martian up and buy some methane offsets?

Re:As a Mr. Skywalker once said:

[Itninja]

And I believe it was the great Dr. Hansford Solo that said "What a incredible smell you've discovered!"

Cows

[JustNiz]

Cows ruined their own planet before they came to earth millenia ago.
Its this migration that the child's nursery rhyme is referencing in the line "the cow jumped over the moon".
They're now doing the same to the earth.

Go ahead

[PPH]

Pull my tentacle.